Traffic talk: Are drivers pulling boats or stuff on trailers required to have working lights on the back?

In honor of the start of the summer travel season, this week's traffic talk looks at the rules of the road for hauling boats and other stuff on trailers.

The question came from, Peg West, my good friend, colleague, and someone I consider the unofficial Grand Rapids Press newsroom "voice of reason."

It should also be noted that the Pegster was the inspiration and catalyst behind this traffic talk series.

So, if you enjoy it, you have her to thank for that. If you're not a fan, again, blame Peg.

And, since that fact also makes Peg a "Traffic Talk VIP," when she emailed her question I got right on that.

Here's what Peg wrote:

I was following a buffoon this weekend who was pulling a pontoon behind a pickup with NO lights on the back. So, with no tail lights, I had to stop short not once, but twice, because I had no warning that he was slowing, much less coming to a complete stop. And then, he started backing up (to allow a parked car to pull in front of him) something I would not know because he had no warning lights on the boat, and I had to honk the horn. He did it again when starting to back into a boat launch. Is there not a law that requires boats to have trailers with working lights on the back for night driving, as well as to warn about braking and reversing? And for that matter, aren't all trailers (the kinds for hauling things) supposed to have the same?

(1) A motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, pole trailer, or vehicle which is being drawn in a train of vehicles shall be equipped with at least 1 rear lamp mounted on the rear, which, when lighted as required by this act, shall emit a red light plainly visible from a distance of 500 feet to the rear.
(2) Either a tail lamp or a separate lamp shall be constructed and placed so as to illuminate with a white light the rear registration plate and render it clearly legible from a distance of 50 feet to the rear. A tail lamp or tail lamps, together with any separate lamp for illuminating the rear registration plate, shall be wired so as to be lighted whenever the head lamps or auxiliary driving lamps are lighted.

"So, a trailer is required to have one red taillight and a license plate light," Church said. "I will not go into "implements of husbandry" (certain farm vehicles) at this time, but they have different rules."

Implements of husbandry?

I totally had to look that one up. (For the record: An 'implement of husbandry' is farm equipment exclusively designed and used for agricultural purposes. Who knew?)

In layman's terms, Church said, those requirements are that 'big' trailers must have two clearance lights on the front, two marker lights on the sides, two reflectors on the sides, and two clearance light, two reflectors, and a stop light on the rear.

And, smaller trailers (e.g. boat trailers) must have two reflectors and a stop light if the load obscures the stop light of the towing vehicle.

"Many motorists do not know the difference between tail lights ("tail lamps" in the statute) and brake lights ("stop lights") in the statute," Church said. "A tail light comes on when you turn your headlights on, and it is slightly dimmer than the brake light."

"The brake light comes on when you activate the brakes and it is brighter than the taillight."

Small" trailers are required to have a taillight and license plate lights, at least when it is dark enough to require headlights, he said.

A trailer is required to have a brake light, but only if the trailer or its load blocks the view of the towing vehicle's brake light, he said.

"If you can see the towing vehicle's brake lights then the trailer is not required to have its own brake light," he said.

To make it even more confusing, Church said state law requires all vehicles manufactured after 1965 to have two brake lights.

"A trailer is a vehicle by definition," he said. 'However, since (the statute) specifically addresses trailers, I would argue that trailers are only required to have one brake light. But I am sure many officers and magistrates will disagree."

Church said he cannot find any Michigan statute requiring back up (reverse) lights. One statute allows backing lights, but does not require them.

"There is a "catch-all" equipment statute that many officers would use for back up lights, but I would argue that it does not apply (as it prohibits vehicles in an unsafe condition or that lack required equipment)," he said.

OK, that's probably more than you ever wanted to know about trailers and tail and brake lights, but since Peg asked I wanted to be thorough.

As always, please let me know what other traffic laws you'd like me to tackle. You can leave those questions below or send an email to localnews@grpress.com